Michigan's "Funeral Bandit" caught in Colorado; man preyed on grieving families, say cops

(CBS) PONTIAC, Mich. - The man dubbed the "Funeral Bandit" by Michigan police for allegedly robbing at least 16 grieving families during funerals has been captured in Colorado, CBS Detroit reported.

Oakland County, Mich., sheriff Michael Bouchard says investigators believe Todd Griffin, 44, found his victims through the obituaries.

"He stole while they were at a funeral most of the time," said Bouchard. "So this is just a ****bag ... plain and simple."

One of the victims was Jim Ratliff of Clarkston. His parents had recently died and their home was to be part of an estate sale - but before that could happen the place was robbed. Ratliff says police could not recover some of his mother's jewelry.

"...It wasn't incredibly valuable just was very sentimental - my sisters probably would like to have that for the memory ... but it doesn't look like we're going to get that," Ratliffe told CBS Detroit.

Homes in Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, Genesee, and Shiawassee counties were allegedly targeted by the "Funeral Bandit."